#DeflateGate (Court of Appeals Reinstates Suspension)

[celticsclay]

I am sure other people have said this, I am not interested enough to read the 21 pages of this thread. I just am really disappointed that there has been pretty much no discussion of the actual football teams and 90% of NFL coverage for the super bowl is on this topic.

From everything I have read the most likely penalty that would happen would be draft picks taken and a fine. I have not read a story saying there is a chance of players being suspended or anything, so why not just deal with this after the super bowl? They can drop the hammer on the patriots then if they want (multiple first rounds picks, 10 million dollars etc). If the deflate whatever is not going to impact the super bowl itself can we have some analysis of the patriots run game against the seattle defense? An analysis of why Wilson threw 4 picks against the Packers. What is the weather projection for the game? What is the status of Richard Sherman's arm? With the season ending injury to their 3rd best receiver, does the seahawks already average pass offense have more issues? Who will revis cover? I realize there is still a little over a week until the game, but this is all stuff that I would be way more interested in.

As Koz mentioned earlier, the stipulated penalty for this infraction is a $25,000 fine plus other possible penalties as the league deems necessary. In the NFL world, $25,000 is peanuts. And that's an appropriate number here, because—as I and others have said—this is a minor infraction comparable with driving 50 in a 45 zone. Draft picks? Millions or even hundreds of thousands of dollars? Ridiculous. Especially considering numerous other teams have "tampered" with the football (on film, even) and received no punishment.

I don't think that will actually happen, my point was it is really a bummer we can't read anything about the matchup or players involved at this point. Heck it would be really interesting to read an interview from Blount on how he went from walking off the field for the steelers to running for 150 in the AFC championship. That is an unprecedented move. Are there are any key players that plan to retire if their teams win? How about a comparison of the players from the last time new england won a super bowl versus now? How about last year's seattle team versus this years? Maybe an interview with Browner comparing playing for the two secondaries. I get covering the deflate gate for a day or two, but it is Thursday afternoon now and I have not seen really any stories on grantland, espn or elsewhere discussing the actual game.

[footey]

curious to hear Brady presser at 4.

My best guess is that the pats inflated the balls a bit under the acceptable range before handing them to the refs for testing. The refs did a feel test, not a meter test, and accepted them, and they went ahead and used them until the Colts objected in the 2nd quarter.  The fact that they had less pressure than the Colts balls just means that the Pats (Brady) likes a less pressured ball.   Seems like the entire inspection requirement diminishes any possible fine. I am assuming that there is no proof of tampering after the balls were inspected by the refs before the game. 

Are the refs under the rules required to actually test the balls with a pressure gauge, or do they just look/feel them to make sure they seem okay?  This is a pretty important question and can help better explain why the ball pressure was different between the Colts balls and the Pats balls. Based on all that i have read, there seems to be an unwritten agreement among quarterbacks and refs that the balls are usually accepted by the refs without too much inspection. If that is the case, why should the Pats be penalized at all??

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I am sure other people have said this, I am not interested enough to read the 21 pages of this thread. I just am really disappointed that there has been pretty much no discussion of the actual football teams and 90% of NFL coverage for the super bowl is on this topic.

From everything I have read the most likely penalty that would happen would be draft picks taken and a fine. I have not read a story saying there is a chance of players being suspended or anything, so why not just deal with this after the super bowl? They can drop the hammer on the patriots then if they want (multiple first rounds picks, 10 million dollars etc). If the deflate whatever is not going to impact the super bowl itself can we have some analysis of the patriots run game against the seattle defense? An analysis of why Wilson threw 4 picks against the Packers. What is the weather projection for the game? What is the status of Richard Sherman's arm? With the season ending injury to their 3rd best receiver, does the seahawks already average pass offense have more issues? Who will revis cover? I realize there is still a little over a week until the game, but this is all stuff that I would be way more interested in.

As Koz mentioned earlier, the stipulated penalty for this infraction is a $25,000 fine plus other possible penalties as the league deems necessary. In the NFL world, $25,000 is peanuts. And that's an appropriate number here, because—as I and others have said—this is a minor infraction comparable with driving 50 in a 45 zone. Draft picks? Millions or even hundreds of thousands of dollars? Ridiculous. Especially considering numerous other teams have "tampered" with the football (on film, even) and received no punishment.

I don't think that will actually happen, my point was it is really a bummer we can't read anything about the matchup or players involved at this point. Heck it would be really interesting to read an interview from Blount on how he went from walking off the field for the steelers to running for 150 in the AFC championship. That is an unprecedented move. Are there are any key players that plan to retire if their teams win? How about a comparison of the players from the last time new england won a super bowl versus now? How about last year's seattle team versus this years? Maybe an interview with Browner comparing playing for the two secondaries. I get covering the deflate gate for a day or two, but it is Thursday afternoon now and I have not seen really any stories on grantland, espn or elsewhere discussing the actual game.

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that you wanted those harsh penalties, I was just using your comment as a springboard to discuss that topic. Anyway, you're right, it would be nice to have some actual game previews/analysis.

[LooseCannon]

According to the just completed news conference, BB says (1) he knows nothing about this, and (2) that they have balls inflated to 12.5psi, which is the lowest limit. Makes sense, then, that some of the balls end up being deflated below the allowable limit when they come out into the cold. Doesn't explain how one or more balls is at 10.5 psi, but so far its not clear how many balls were at that level.

I think he gave it away when he volunteered that he didn't know anything until these last couple of days about how the ball boy got the balls down to the field from the referees office via elevator and all those other questions being asked.

The ball boy does apparently go in the elevator at Foxboro with the balls, which presumably would have been when he could had done his deed.

It was a really strange detail for him to have brought up otherwise.

I'm not sure there's time to deflate 11 footballs over the course of an elevator ride.

If the elevator ride is from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, there's time to stop at the 2nd floor and swap balls out.

[LooseCannon]

I am sure other people have said this, I am not interested enough to read the 21 pages of this thread. I just am really disappointed that there has been pretty much no discussion of the actual football teams and 90% of NFL coverage for the super bowl is on this topic.

From everything I have read the most likely penalty that would happen would be draft picks taken and a fine. I have not read a story saying there is a chance of players being suspended or anything, so why not just deal with this after the super bowl? They can drop the hammer on the patriots then if they want (multiple first rounds picks, 10 million dollars etc). If the deflate whatever is not going to impact the super bowl itself can we have some analysis of the patriots run game against the seattle defense? An analysis of why Wilson threw 4 picks against the Packers. What is the weather projection for the game? What is the status of Richard Sherman's arm? With the season ending injury to their 3rd best receiver, does the seahawks already average pass offense have more issues? Who will revis cover? I realize there is still a little over a week until the game, but this is all stuff that I would be way more interested in.

As Koz mentioned earlier, the stipulated penalty for this infraction is a $25,000 fine plus other possible penalties as the league deems necessary. In the NFL world, $25,000 is peanuts. And that's an appropriate number here, because—as I and others have said—this is a minor infraction comparable with driving 50 in a 45 zone. Draft picks? Millions or even hundreds of thousands of dollars? Ridiculous. Especially considering numerous other teams have "tampered" with the football (on film, even) and received no punishment.

Maybe it will be $25,000 per ball if any wrongdoing is found.

[Cman]

curious to hear Brady presser at 4.

My best guess is that the pats inflated the balls a bit under the acceptable range before handing them to the refs for testing. The refs did a feel test, not a meter test, and accepted them, and they went ahead and used them until the Colts objected in the 2nd quarter.  The fact that they had less pressure than the Colts balls just means that the Pats (Brady) likes a less pressured ball.   Seems like the entire inspection requirement diminishes any possible fine. I am assuming that there is no proof of tampering after the balls were inspected by the refs before the game. 

Are the refs under the rules required to actually test the balls with a pressure gauge, or do they just look/feel them to make sure they seem okay?  This is a pretty important question and can help better explain why the ball pressure was different between the Colts balls and the Pats balls. Based on all that i have read, there seems to be an unwritten agreement among quarterbacks and refs that the balls are usually accepted by the refs without too much inspection. If that is the case, why should the Pats be penalized at all??

Yep, this is an angle which hasn't gotten enough discussion. Namely that this is on referees as well.

[kozlodoev]

The journalists in this presser are fairly useless.

[kozlodoev]

If the elevator ride is from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, there's time to stop at the 2nd floor and swap balls out.

You realize they're all individually marked by the officiating crew, right?

[Cman]

Brady sounds like BB

I didn't alter the balls in any way.

I was as surprised as anyone when I heard Monday morning what was happening

I wonder if he'll also get the Donald Trump shout out?

[Roy H.]

The idea that Brady can't tell the difference between the ball he supposedly hand-chose five hours previously, and an under-inflated ball, is laughable.

[D.o.s.]

I am sure other people have said this, I am not interested enough to read the 21 pages of this thread. I just am really disappointed that there has been pretty much no discussion of the actual football teams and 90% of NFL coverage for the super bowl is on this topic.

From everything I have read the most likely penalty that would happen would be draft picks taken and a fine. I have not read a story saying there is a chance of players being suspended or anything, so why not just deal with this after the super bowl? They can drop the hammer on the patriots then if they want (multiple first rounds picks, 10 million dollars etc). If the deflate whatever is not going to impact the super bowl itself can we have some analysis of the patriots run game against the seattle defense? An analysis of why Wilson threw 4 picks against the Packers. What is the weather projection for the game? What is the status of Richard Sherman's arm? With the season ending injury to their 3rd best receiver, does the seahawks already average pass offense have more issues? Who will revis cover? I realize there is still a little over a week until the game, but this is all stuff that I would be way more interested in.

But then what would you click on next Monday?

what are you talking about? I would be reading about the game that happened and then presumably this investigation if I cared about it.

Your question was "why not deal with this (i.e. cover it) after the Super Bowl?" In other words, why are we not reading about things that actually have to do with the game instead. I told you why. I can explain further if I'm not being clear.

[LooseCannon]

If the elevator ride is from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, there's time to stop at the 2nd floor and swap balls out.

You realize they're all individually marked by the officiating crew, right?

From what I have read, they are marked with a dot, which I realize is a really difficult mark to counterfeit.

[Cman]

The idea that Brady can't tell the difference between the ball he supposedly hand-chose five hours previously, and an under-inflated ball, is laughable.

Depends on how under-inflated it is, right?

BB more or less said that the Pats like the balls at 12.5 PSI, the lowest limit.

Would Brady be able to tell the difference between a ball at 12.5 PSI and 12.2 PSI? or 12 PSI?
Yes, he probably should be able to tell the difference between 12.5 PSI and 10.5 PSI (I'm guessing on this, I'm no expert that's for sure), but it's still not clear to me whether "all" the balls were at that level, or all were below 12.5 PSI, one of which was at 10.5 PSI.

[Cman]

If the elevator ride is from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, there's time to stop at the 2nd floor and swap balls out.

You realize they're all individually marked by the officiating crew, right?

From what I have read, they are marked with a dot, which I realize is a really difficult mark to counterfeit.

I think it varies by referee, who might put an initial or some other mark on it.

[kozlodoev]

If the elevator ride is from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, there's time to stop at the 2nd floor and swap balls out.

You realize they're all individually marked by the officiating crew, right?

From what I have read, they are marked with a dot, which I realize is a really difficult mark to counterfeit.

They are marked with the specific crew's individual mark which is different for every crew. In the article I read, it mentioned that the mark of one crew was an L, the first initial of the referee's wife.